WHEREAS, African Americans have played an important role in Baptist history in the United States; and
WHEREAS, It was common for white and black Baptists to worship together before the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, Historiography has not always reflected the contribution of African American Baptists; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, acknowledge and express their appreciation for the contributions of African Americans to the faithful Baptist witness in the United States; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we celebrate pioneers such as African Americans George Liele, who many acknowledge as the first overseas missionary from the United States in 1782; Lott Carey, who organized African American missions in the 1800s; S .M. Lockridge, who was a faithful preacher of the Gospel in the twentieth century; Sid Smith, who was one of the first African American Southern Baptist denominational leaders in the modern era; and Fred Luter, who was elected as the first African American president of the Southern Baptist Convention.